Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome Risk Factors in High School and NCAA Division I Football Players

Abstract

Metabolic syndrome (MetSyn) is a clustering of metabolic and cardiovascular disease risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of MetSyn risk factors in high school (HS) and college (College) football players and to examine if the prevalence varied according to body fat percent (%Fat). One hundred twenty-three males (height 179.0 ± 6.7 cm; weight 89.4 ± 19.6 kg) from 7 different high schools and 82 males (height 186.2 ± 6.8 cm; weight 99.6 ± 16.8 kg) from one university participated. All testing occurred in the early morning after an overnight fast. %Fat, waist circumference, resting systolic and diastolic blood pressure, fasting triglyceride, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and blood glucose were determined using standard testing procedures. The MetSyn risk factor levels were determined using American Heart Association criteria. Subjects were grouped by position and playing level (HS, College). Independent t-tests, chi-square analysis, 2-way analysis of variance, and path analytic models were used in the statistical analysis. Significance was set at p < 0.05. 6.8% (n = 14) of the sample met the American Heart Association criteria for MetSyn. Offensive and defensive linemen accounted for 92.3% of the players meeting MetSyn criteria with each playing level (HS, College) having 7 subjects. The MetSyn criteria differed significantly across %Fat. Obese players were more likely to meet the criteria for MetSyn. %Fat was a statistically significant predictor of mean arterial blood pressure, HDL cholesterol, and waist circumference. The MetSyn exists in both HS- and College-level football players, with almost all cases occurring in the athletes with the highest levels of %Fat (offensive/defensive lineman). Strength and conditioning coaches should be aware of the prevalence of MetSyn risk factors in offensive and defensive linemen and take appropriate actions to ensure athlete safety.

The Effect of Acute Hyperglycemia on Muscular Strength, Power and Endurance.

“…These data are corroborated by recent reports, which present evidence of risk factors of metabolic syndrome in NCAA athletes (4,19). Apparently, regular exercise may not be enough to balance other factors, such as genetics and/or poor diet, which may promote excessive body fat and, subsequently, alter glucose metabolism.…”

“…Consequently, avoiding the insults of prolonged hyperglycemia on muscle health is critical for athletes looking to maintain peak performance. Though the link between prolonged hyperglycemia and competitive athletes is weak, new evidence in high school and collegiate athletes indicates a growing prevalence of risk factors associated with metabolic syndrome including abdominal obesity and fasting hyperglycemia (4)(5)(6)19). These data, while not demonstrating the existence of prolonged hyperglycemia, do raise the likelihood that collegiate athletes may experience periods of acute hyperglycemia.…”

Body Composition and Bone Mineral Density of Division 1 Collegiate Football Players: A Consortium of College Athlete Research Study

“…We have previously identified a proportional shift of accumulation of VAT, even in an athletic population, with increasing adiposity and total mass (9). Monitoring VAT both during and after a playing career, in addition to other body composition measures, will be important for athletes to maintain health and healthy metabolic function (5, 13,15, 25, 27). This study, which shows the mean VAT values for OL and DL to be 2 – 4 times greater than for the other positions, is consistent with our NFL population (9) and others that have shown linemen are at the greatest risk of cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction after retirement (1, 2,18, 25, 31).…”

“…Moreover, recent advancements in DXA software allow for regional segmentation of body composition, comparison of right and left sides of the body, as well as the estimation of visceral fat mass (VAT). This additional information allows for a more detailed evaluation of the distribution of mass and the estimate of VAT has important implications for health and well-being of players (1, 5, 9, 14–15, 25, 27). Researchers and sports performance trainers can use this information to determine mass distribution ratios that may have a stronger relationship with speed, strength and power than traditional total measures of body composition (i.e.…”

The prevalence and consequences of obesity in athletes

“…24 However, even more concerning is that now even high school athletes are beginning to show signs of metabolic syndrome. Steffes et al 25 demonstrated that the rate of metabolic syndrome in high school football players is the same as that seen in college football players. They were even able to demonstrate that a high BMI and body fat percent were risk factors for developing metabolic syndrome.…”